第14章

"LIKE HIS FATHER."

Scarborough soon lifted himself high above the throng, and was marked by faculty and students as a man worth watching.The manner of this achievement was one of those forecasts of the future with which youth bristles for those who take the trouble to watch it.

Although Pierson was only a sophomore he was the political as well as the social leader of his fraternity.Envy said that the Sigma Alphas truckled to his wealth; perhaps the exacter truth was that his wealth forced an earlier recognition of his real capacity.His position as leader made him manager of the Sigma Alpha combination of fraternities and barbs which for six years had dominated the Washington and Jefferson Literary Society.The barbs had always voted humbly with the aristocratic Sigma Alphas;so Pierson's political leadership apparently had no onerous duties attached to it--and he was not the man to make work for himself.

As the annual election approached he heard rumors of barb disaffection, of threatened barb revolt.Vance, his barb lieutenant, reassured him.

"Always a few kickers," said Vance, "and they make a lot of noise.But they won't draw off twenty votes." Pierson made himself easy--there was no danger of one of those hard-fought contests which in past years had developed at Battle Field many of Indiana's adroit political leaders.

On election night he felt important and powerful as he sat in the front row among the arrogant Sigma Alphas, at the head of his forces massed in the left side of the hall.He had insisted on Scarborough's occupying a seat just behind him.He tilted back in his arm-chair and said, in an undertone: "You're voting with us?"Scarborough shook his head."Can't do it.I'm pledged to Adee."Pierson looked amused."Who's he? And who's putting him up?""I'm nominating him," replied Scarborough, "as the barb candidate.""Take my advice don't do it, old man," said Pierson in a friendly, somewhat patronizing tone.

"You'll only get our fellows down on you--them and all the fraternity men.And--well, your candidate'll have a dozen votes or so, at most--and there'll be a laugh.""Yes--I suppose there will be a laugh," said Scarborough, his eyes twinkling.

"Don't do it," urged Pierson."Be practical.""No--I leave that to your people."

Just then nominations for president were called for and the candidates of the two factions were proposed and seconded."The nominations for president are----" began the chairman, but before he could utter the word "closed" Scarborough was on his feet--was saying, "Mr.Chairman!"Pierson dropped his eyes and grew red with embarrassment for his friend who was thus "rushing on to make a fool of himself."Scarborough's glance traveled slowly from row to row of expectant young men.

"Mr.Chairman and fellow-members of the Washington and Jefferson Society," he said in a conversational tone."I have the honor of placing in nomination Frank Adee, of Terre Haute.In addition to other qualifications of which it would be superfluous for me to speak in this presence, he represents the masses of the membership of this society which has been too long dominated by and for its classes.It is time to compel the fraternities to take faction and caste and political wire-pulling away from this hall, and to keep them away.It is time to rededicate our society to equality, to freedom of thought and speech, to the democratic ideas of the plain yet proud builders of this college of ours."Scarborough made no attempt at oratory, made not a single gesture.It was as though he were talking privately and earnestly with each one there.He sat amid silence; when a few barbs nervously applauded, the fraternity men of both factions, recovering themselves, raised a succession of ironical cheers.Ashabby, frightened barb stood awkwardly, and in a trembling, weak voice seconded the nomination.There was an outburst of barb applause--strong, defiant.Pierson was anxiously studying the faces of his barbs.

"By Jove," he muttered, "Vance has been caught napping.Ibelieve Scarborough has put up a job on us.If I can't gain time we're beat." And he sprang to his feet, his face white.In a voice which he struggled in vain to keep to his wonted affected indifferent drawl, he said: "Mr.Chairman, I move you, sir, that we adjourn." As he was bending to sit his ready lieutenant seconded the motion.

"Mr.Chairman!" It was an excited voice from the rear of the hall--the voice of a tall, lank, sallow man of perhaps thirty-five."What right," he shouted shrilly, "has this Mr.

Pierson to come here and make that there motion? He ain't never seen here except on election nights.He----"The chairman rapped sharply.

"Motion to adjourn not debatable," he said, and then mumbled rapidly: "The question's the motion to adjourn.All in favor say Aye--all opposed, No--the ayes seem to have it--the ayes have----""Mr.Chairman; I call for a count of the ayes and noes!" It was Scarborough, standing, completely self-possessed.His voice was not raised but it vibrated through that room, vibrated through those three hundred intensely excited young men.